Commercial – UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, April 2025
Biotech Boom: AI, Investment and Innovation Power UK Life Sciences Jobs
Key findings include:
- UK life sciences investment hits £3.2bn in Q1 2025, strongest since 2022.
- Sales and marketing vacancies rose 18.7% YoY, the highest quarterly figure on record.
- Cambridge and Oxford drive South East growth, with a 33.6% YoY increase forecast.
- GSK and Johnson & Johnson project 66–68% YoY hiring growth in 2025.
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UK life sciences sector sees record investment and hiring lift
The UK’s life sciences sector entered 2025 on a high, attracting £3.2 billion in investment in Q1—the strongest performance since 2022. Nearly half went to startups in Series B and C stages, relieving long-standing funding gaps. Artificial intelligence essentially drives this surge, particularly in drug discovery, where AI reduces trial failures and boosts returns. Government policy is also a catalyst. The sector remains central to the UK’s industrial strategy, with more relaxed regulation and greater NHS data access accelerating innovation. Patent expiries are driving firms to reinvent pipelines, increasing investor scrutiny. In response, companies are expanding commercial teams. Sales and marketing vacancies jumped 18.7% in Q1 to 756— the highest in recent memory. While London remains a key hub, growth is now strongest in Cambridge and Oxford, where university spinoffs attract talent and capital.
AI reshapes hiring across firms and regions
Artificial intelligence is transforming not only R&D but also commercial operations. Marketing, PR, and sales hiring has surged in pharmaceutical and biotech firms, while contract research organisations (CROs) face declines. CRO vacancies are projected to fall 11.1% in 2025, with their share of overall demand shrinking to 6.1%, as firms bring AI capabilities in-house. Machine learning and predictive analytics are enabling faster, more targeted commercial strategies. The pharmaceutical sector reported 439 vacancies in Q1, with 23.1% annual growth expected. Biotech posted 181 vacancies, with a 45.4% surge forecast. London remains the largest cluster, with demand up 10.7% this year. However, the South East—driven by Cambridge and Oxford—is growing faster, with 33.6% projected growth. Other regions are catching up, too. The North West is rebounding with 65.5% growth expected in 2025, while the North East may more than double its demand.
Commercial roles dominate skills demand in 2025
Hiring trends in UK life sciences show a decisive shift toward commercial capabilities. Startups embed marketing and sales functions earlier in their lifecycle to prove investor value. In 2024, sales roles grew 17.8%, with a further 21.5% increase projected for 2025. Account management and inside sales dominate, with 712 projected openings—up 29.5% year-on-year. These roles now make up nearly a quarter of all commercial hiring. Medical sales have more than doubled, jumping from 110 roles in 2024 to 232 this year—a 110.9% increase—reflecting demand for technically skilled professionals. Marketing and PR vacancies are rising steadily. General marketing is the most significant contributor, with a 67.3% growth forecast in 2025. Brand management, recovering from a 19.7% drop, is projected to bounce back by 43.9%. The trend signals a broader shift: commercial proof is as vital as clinical progress.
Top employers drive growth amid a competitive landscape
Hiring in 2025 reflects a race for market share and innovation leadership. Companies are expanding commercial teams, particularly in oncology, infectious diseases, and neurology. IQVIA remains the top recruiter for commercial roles, defying trends among CROs with a projected 43.5% increase, helped by its AI collaboration with NVIDIA. GSK and Johnson & Johnson follow closely, raising vacancies by 66.4% and 68% respectively, with significant research investments and strategic academic partnerships. Smaller firms are gaining momentum: Astellas is set for a 127% hiring surge after a dip in 2024, and Chiesi expects a 152.6% rebound. Vertex, the only biotech in the top group, forecasts 108% growth, driven by demand for cystic fibrosis treatments and CASGEVY’s launch. Yet, risks remain. Tariff uncertainties and overseas manufacturing shifts could disrupt hiring momentum, even as domestic recruitment shows historic strength.
See where the real growth is happening in Life Sciences hiring. Download the report for the full picture.
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